Fluid dispensing attachment for dental engines



April 16, 1957 R. E. CUNNINGHAM FLUID DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR DENTAL ENGINES Filed Jan. 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT E .CUNNINGHAM BY M, fi fiTTORN YS.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT E. CUNNINGHAM.

ATTO EYS.

//vwg April 16, 1957 R. E. CUNNINGHAM FLUID DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR DENTAL'ENGINES Filed Jan. 20. 1954 United States Patent FLUID DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR DENTAL ENGINES Robert E. Cunningham, Jackson, Miss.

Application January 20, 1954, Serial No. 405,096

2 Claims. (Cl. 32-28) This invention relates to a fluid-dispensing attachment for dental engines, and more particularly to a device which may be attached to the hand piece of a dental engine for dispensing a fluid, such as air or water.

In drilling teeth, the friction caused by the rapid rotation of the stone or burr carried by the dental tool pro duces most of the pain felt by the patient. If a cooling fluid, such as air or water, is directed toward the stone or burr and into the region where the drilling is taking place, the heat produced by the friction of grinding can be greatly reduced, thereby alleviating the patient's discomfort. Furthermore, the delivery of fluid to the drilling zone also facilitates the drilling operation since the dentist does not have to stop to flush out the cavity being drilled in order to observe the progress of the drilling operation. Air or water attachments on dental engines are also useful in connection with other types of dental work, such as cleaning teeth, for example.

While various devices have been designed for use with a dental engine to introduce a fluid into the patients mouth while dental work, such as drilling, is being performed, most of the devices of this type have been cumbersome in construction to the extent that they interfere with the delicate handling of the dental instrument, and thereby prevent satisfactory use thereof. An improved air or water attachment which represents an advance over the prior art is disclosed in my Patent No. 2,437,017, issued March 2, 1948, on an application filed February 21, 1947. However, the air or water attachment disclosed in the patent just mentioned requires the use of a fluid-carrying conduit which extends to a point adjacent the outer tip of the hand piece of the dental engine, and also requires a valve-operating rod which also extends to a point adjacent the outer end of the hand piece to permit control of the flow of fluid by the operator.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an air and water attachment for dental engine which is of simple construction and which requires a minimum number of operating parts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an air and water attachment for dental engines which permits a continuous or intermittent supply of fluid, such as air or water, to the patients mouth while dental work is being performed.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device for supplying a stream of water and air at a predetermined point adjacent the end of the dental instrument, with the flow of fluid being at all times under exact control of the person operating the instrument.

It is another object of this invention to provide an air and water attachment for dental engines which is an improvement over the device disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,437,017, issued March 2, 1948.

In achievement of these objectives, this invention provides an air and water attachment for a dental engine in which the fluid-carrying tube or conduit that extends to adjacent the outer tip of the hand piece of the dental engine incorporates a part of the valve-operating system that controls the fluid flow. The fluid-carrying conduit may be slidably moved to eflect the opening or closing of the flow-control valve. This arrangement therefore eliminates the need for the separate valve-operating rod required in the construction disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,437,017.

The invention, both as to its organization and use, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a portion of a dental engine which includes an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, partially in section, of the valve-operating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a view in section along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation view of a modified air and water attachment in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, partially cut away and in section, of the air and Water attachment of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view of the air and water attachment of Figs. 4 and 5, to show the details of the manually operated member which permits shifting of the fluid-carrying conduit to control fluid flow.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 the supporting frame 20 of a dental engine which may be of standard construction and design. At the outer end 22 of the frame 20 is a hinge joint 24 to which is attached in hinged relation a hollow extension rod 26. The extension rod 26 is connected to a second extension rod 28 by means of hinged joint 30. The rod 26 is hollow from the point 32 to the point 34 and similarly the rod 28 is hollow from the point 36 to the point 38.

A flexible fluid-carrying conduit 40 connected to a source of fluid supply is carried by the frame 20 and is attached thereto by means of a clip 42 or other suitable holding means. The flexible conduit 40 enters the hollow portion of the extension arm 26 at the point 44 adjacent the point 32, passes longitudinally through the hollow interior of arm 26 and emerges from arm 26 at point 46 adjacent point 34. After emerging from arm 26, the flexible conduit 40 curves around the hinge 30 and enters the hollow portion of extension arm 28 at point 48, adjacent point 36, passes longitudinally through the hollow interior of arm 28, and emerges therefrom at point 50, adjacent point 38.

At its lower end, the arm 28 is pivotally connected by hinge 52 to an arm 54. A bracket 56 is supported by the outer end of the arm 54, the bracket 56 in turn supporting the hand piece 58. At the outer end of the hand piece 58, a dental tool 60 is mounted for rotation. Adjacent the dental tool 60 is the outlet end 62 of a tube 64 which, in accordance with the invention, conducts a fluid such as air and water to the region where the dental work is being performed.

A rotary shut-off valve 51 is mounted on an arm of the hinge 52 and the flexible conduit 40 is connected to the inlet end 53 of the valve 51. The valve 51 is normally left in an open position while dental work is being performed. A short flexible conduit 55 is connected between the outlet 54 of valve 51 and the inlet 66 of a control valve generally indicated at 68. The control valve 68 is secured to the outer surface of upper end of hand piece 58 by means of a ring member 57 which is connected, as by soldering, to the surface of the housing of valve 68.

As will best be seen in Fig. 2, the housing of control valve 68 includes a main body portion 70 which contains a hollow valve chamber 74 and a body portion 76 of reduced diameter having an axial passage 78. The axial passage 78 extends from the end of body portion 76 into communication with the hollow chamber 74.

The inlet 66 of valve 68 to which the flexible conduit 55 is connected communicates with hollow chamber 74. The inlet 66 passes through a cap member 72 which is in screw-threaded engagement with the outer end of the main body portion 70 of valve 68. The end of the housing of valve 68 opposite the inlet end 66 is provided with a screw-threaded neck portion 80 of reduced diameter which engages an elongated tubular sleeve member 82 which extends for a substantial portion of the length of the hand piece 58 in order to serve as a guide for the fluid-carrying tube 64. The end of sleeve 82 which engages neck portion 80 may be provided with a packing in the packing space 83 to prevent leakage from the housing of valve 68 of any fluid which may get between the outer surface of tube 64 and the surface of axial passage 78. The opposite end of sleeve 82 may have approximately 180 degrees of its surface cut away for a short distance as indicated at 85 in Fig. 1, the remaining surface portion serving as a bearing for the slidable actuating member 90 to be later described, and also as a bearing for a portion of the slidable tube member 64. The guide sleeve 82 is soldered or otherwise rigidly secured to the outer surface of the hand piece 58.

The fluid-carrying tube 64 extends from its outlet end 62 along the outer surface of hand piece 58, enters the guide sleeve 82, passes through sleeve 82, through the axial passage 78 in the housing of valve 68, and terminates in a valve head member 84 which is received within the valve chamber 74. A spring 86 is seated at one of its ends on the outer surface of valve head 84 and at the other of its ends on the inside surface of cap 72. Spring 86 serves to normally bias the tube 64 toward the left, with respect to Fig. 2, so that valve head 84 is seated on the end wall of chamber 74 in the position shown in dotted outline at 84'.

The fluid-carrying tube 64 is provided adjacent but spaced from the valve head 84 with one or more fluid inlet slots or openings 88. In the normal spring-biased position of tube 64, when valve head 84 is seated in position 84' at the left-hand end of chamber 74, the inlet slots 88 assume the dotted outline position 88' along the axial passage 78, and are therefore out of communication with chamber 74. In this position of tube 64, no fluid is admitted to tube 64 through inlet slots 88. However, when the tube 64 is manually pushed to the position shown in Fig. 2 in which the valve head 84 is moved away from its seat, the fluid inlet slots 88 extend into the chamber 74 and permit fluid which has entered the chamber 74 through the inlet 66 to pass into the openings 88 of the tiube 64 and thence to the outlet end 62 where it passes into the patients mouth.

In order to cause sliding movement of the tube member 64 to effect the valve operation just described, there is attached to the tube 64 a suitable operating member which is actuated by the operator. Thus, in the form of the invention shown in Fig. l, a ring member 90 i: rigidly attached to the tube 64 at a point adjacent that at which the tube 64 enters the sleeve member 82. The ring member 90 surrounds the outer surface of the hand piece 58 and is longitudinally slidable along that surface and also along the bearing surface 85 of guide sleeve 82 to thereby efiect a sliding movement of the tube member 64.

There is shown in Figs. 4, and 6 a modified form of air and water attachment in accordance with the invention which differs from the embodiment previously described, principally in the structure of the valve element and in the structure of the operating member which imparts sliding movement to the fluid-carrying tube. This embodiment is adapted for use with a dental instrument of the type previously described in which a hand piece 58 is supported by a bracket member 56 which in turn is supported by an arm 54. A dental tool 60 is carried by the outer end of the hand piece. A fluid-carrying conduit 92, which discharges at point 94 adjacent the tool member 60, is supported within a guide sleeve 96 which is connected by a screw-threaded engagement or other suitable means, to one end of the housing of valve 98. The guide sleeve 96 extends for a substantial portion of the distance between the valve 98 and the outlet end 94 of tube 92, and is rigidly secured, as by soldering, to the outer surface of the hand piece 58.

The valve 98 is provided with an axially extending passage 102 which extends from an opening at its lefthand end, with respect to Figs. 4-6, to the closed end of the valve. The valve 98 is provided with an inlet 99 adjacent, but spaced from, the closed end 100 of the valve. A conduit 97, connected to a source of fluid supply, is connected to inlet 99. The fluid-carrying tube 92 passes through the guide sleeve 96 and into the interior of axially extending passage 102 of the valve housing 98. Tube 92 is provided with an open end 104 through which fluid may pass when the tubular member 92 is in the position shown in Fig. 5; that is, when the open end 104 of the tube 92 is moved toward the left, with respect to Figs. 4-6, to a position in which the open end 104 communicates with the inlet 99 in the valve housing, fluid passes from the inlet 99, through the open end 104 of the tube 92, through the tube 92 to the outlet end 94. When the operator desires to cut off the flow of fluid through the tube 92, he manually pushes or slides the tube 92 to the right with respect to the views shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 to thereby slide the open end 104 of the tube 92 beyond the inlet 99. A gasket 106 is provided in an annular recess in the passage 102 at a point disposed between the closed end 100 of the valve housing and the inlet 99. The gasket 106 provides a seal which prevents leakage of fluid to the open end 104 when the outer surface of tube 92 engages the gasket 106. A gasket 108 is also provided in an annular recess in the passage 102 to the left of inlet 99 with respect to Fig. 5 to prevent leakage of fluid in the space between the outer surface of the tubular member 92 and the surface of the passage 102.

The tubular member 92 is slidably moved by means of a finger grip member 110 which is rigidly attached, as by soldering, for example, to the outer surface of the tubular member 92. For this purpose, the outer tubular member or sleeve 96 through which the tube 92 passes may have a part of its surface cut away as indicated at 112 to permit movement of the finger member 110 and, at the same time, to limit the extremes of movement of the member 110.

Both of the air and water attachments described hereinbefore may be simply attached to the hand piece of a dental engine by soldering or by means of small metal bands or clips. Thus, the attachments can be easily connected to any standard dental hand piece and can be easily taken on and off by the operator. Valve elements of other types than those shown and described may be used in accordance with the invention as long as the tube member which conducts fluid to the patients mouth is manually shiftable to effect opening and closing of the valve in accordance with the invention.

It can be seen from the foregoing that there is provided in accordance with this invention an air and water attachment for dental engines which is simple in construction and operation and which requires a minimum number of operating parts. The attachment permits a simple and accurate control for adjusting the fluid flow to the region where the dental work is being performed and permits either a continuous or intermittent supply of fluid to the patients mouth.

While there have been shown and described various embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein and, therefore, it is aimed to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A hand piece for a dental engine comprising a tool and a fluid-carrying tube, said fluid-carrying tube having an outlet disposed adjacent said tool, a valve housing mounted on said hand piece, an axial passage extending from one end of said valve housing to a closure at the opposite end of said valve housing, a fluid inlet for said valve housing in communication with said axial passage, said fluid inlet being spaced from said closed end of said housing, said fluid-carrying tube extending into said axial passage and being movable axially therein, a fluid inlet means to said tube disposed adjacent an end of said tube, axial movement of said tube selectively controlling the communication between said inlet of said tube and said inlet of said valve housing.

2. A hand piece for a dental engine, a tool carried by said hand piece, a fluid-carrying tube having an outlet disposed adjacent said tool, a valve housing carried by said hand piece, a valve chamber in said valve housing, a fluid inlet means to said valve chamber from a source of fluid supply, said fluid-carrying tube extending into said valve chamber, a valve head carried by the end of said tube in said chamber, a fluid inlet means carried by said tube in spaced relation to said valve head, said valve head being seatable to seal the opening through which said tube enters said chamber, and a spring biasing means normally maintaining said valve head seated, said tube being movable to raise said valve head from its seat and to move said inlet means of said tube into said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,351,376 Ward June 13, 1944 2,437,017 Cunningham Mar. 2, 1948 2,579,408 Vreeland Dec. 18, 1951 2,622,841 Held Dce. 23, 1952 

